THE COMFORT HOUSES - The Experienced and Measured Indoor Environment Camilla Brunsgaard Ph.D. Fellow Architectural Engineering, University of Aalborg, Denmark Mary-Ann Knudstrup Associated Professor Architectural & Design, University of Aalborg, Denmark Per Heiselberg Professor Architectural Engineering, University of Aalborg, Denmark Supported by: Saint-Gobain Isover A/S
Introduction The aim is to document the indoor environment of the Comfort Houses both through Quantitative measurement Quantitative interviews This paper focus on: Temperature CO 2 level Relative humidity The study covers three houses Case 2: One story house with 3-4 occupants, sometimes more. Case 7: One story house with 3 occupants. Case 8: Two story house with 4 occupants.
Methods Quantitative measurements Evaluated by the guideline in CEN1752 Category B need to be fulfilled Temperature summer Temperature winter CO2 level above outdoor level (370ppm) Relative humidity 23-26 C 20-24 C 660ppm 30-70% Qualitative interviews Semi-structured interviews, overall interview guide but flexible to allow new questions if new insights come into view Tell about other persons life worlds Results will be condensed versions of interviews Comparative study of the qualitative and quantitative results
Results thermal indoor environment summer
Results thermal indoor environment summer Case 2: Living room in August. Periods both above and below comfort temperatures. Case 7: Living room in August. Only periods above comfort temperatures.
Results thermal indoor environment summer " we could not keep the doors open when we are not home. That was what the idiot of an architect said we had to do (when we complained about the thermal conditions). Additionally, the windows must be open, but it is not possible the windows can not stay open because they are not designed to stay open. They have a small screw you have to screw on and you have to do it every time... And put the alarm on and leave the window open (when you are not at home), I do not think so." (Case 8)
Results thermal indoor environment winter
Results thermal indoor environment winter Occupant case 2: "It's just frustrating that you do not have anything to say about it. And none of us could come into the system (the control panel of the ventilation system). Interviewer: "Do you want it to be more userfriendly, a more simple system to control?" Occupant case 2: "Yes, exactly." (Case 2) "The ventilation system lives its own life... We want a flat screen down here (first floor), and for example choose the bathroom - 23 degrees (snaps the fingers) and then we will have 23 degrees... I have thought of writing to them (the designers) if they have been `sleeping because it is not the way to design a ventilation system today. It's uncontrollable, it does not work and it s bad." (Occupant, case 8)
Results Atmospheric environment
Discussion Too hot in summer Shading by internal blinds, little efficiency. But no other alternatives. Natural ventilation, not enough. Correct dimensioned? User behaviour. Understanding of the principals, safety etc. Some problems of heating up Technical installations. Short circuit, documentation and installation. User behaviour. Understanding the systems and consequences of different behaviour.
Discussion Too hot in summer Shading by internal blinds, little efficiency. But no other alternatives. Natural ventilation, not enough. Correct dimensioned? User behaviour. Understanding of the principals, safety etc. Some problems of heating up Technical installations. Short circuit, documentation and installation. User behaviour. Understanding the systems and consequences of different behaviour. Atmospheric indoor environment satisfied in summer and less satisfied in winter The design assumptions shall be listed in the operational guide for the ventilation or air-conditioning system and it shall be stated that the indoor Raising environment the ventilation for which the rate system will lover is designed CO2 level, can only be achieved if these conditions are met. Owners and users of the buildings shall be warned that But changes also lover in the the application humidity, of which spaces, already or in thermal is below load 30% or pollution most load, can of result the winter the system being unable to meet the indoor environmental requirements for which it was designed. [CEN1752, page 8]
Conclusion It is necessary to consider the comfort all the way through the creation of the house to be able to achieve comfortable passive houses, both in the design phase, construction phase and in follow up visits. It is important to make the necessary calculations and simulations to document the indoor environment and on realistic preconditions. The users needs to have an overall understanding of what consequences different actions and behaviour can have on the indoor environment and in the end the energy use.
Conclusion It is necessary to consider the comfort all the way through the creation of the house to be able to achieve comfortable passive houses, both in the design phase, construction phase and in follow up visits. It is important to make the necessary calculations and simulations to document the indoor environment and on realistic preconditions. The users needs to have an overall understanding of what consequences different actions and behaviour can have on the indoor environment and in the end the energy use.
Conclusion It is necessary to consider the comfort all the way through the creation of the house to be able to achieve comfortable passive houses, both in the design phase, construction phase and in follow up visits. It is important to make the necessary calculations and simulations to document the indoor environment and on realistic preconditions. The users needs to have an overall understanding of what consequences different actions and behaviour can have on the indoor environment and in the end the energy use.
THE COMFORT HOUSES Questions? Camilla Brunsgaard Ph.D. Fellow Architectural Engineering, University of Aalborg, Denmark Mary-Ann Knudstrup Associated Professor Architectural & Design, University of Aalborg, Denmark Per Heiselberg Professor Architectural Engineering, University of Aalborg, Denmark Supported by: Saint-Gobain Isover A/S www.komforthusene.dk